Dr. Anthony Lombardi
Science & Tech • Fitness & Health
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Keep it simple especially when talking with patients

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
-Albert Einstein

I think it's just human nature to have to complicate things. But when you're in the clinic, that is no time to be an academic or philosopher.

I've always harped on clinical results. Working in the clinic is working in the trenches so to speak. This is where the rubber meets the road. Any flowery ideas of acupuncture or Chinese medicine, all the lovely beautiful concepts and theories, they mean nothing. Results are the only thing that matters - and the treatments behind them. While many think this disparages the "art", what it actually is, is putting the patient first. I will never apologize for putting the patient above ideology that doesn't deliver results, and only serves to comfort one's ego.

I've seen so many peeps brag about what they can do. What they know, how they can "control qi", or the degrees they have. Something is always missing in this bragging though - the patient.

Learning is fun, philosophy is extremely interesting, exploring new idea is important. But in the clinic it's all about keeping it simple.

Likewise, how are you explaining things to your patients? Are you lecturing on the differences between acupuncture and dry needling? Are you over explaining how your treatments are helping them? Have you noticed they glaze over after about 30 seconds?

It's best to keep working on your scripts and saying things very direct. Give the patients what they need - results. We excel in the clinic, delivering the tools we've learned. If we're talking, we're not working (unless you can do both at the same time).

And please, keep it simple!

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20 hours ago
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Spring is coming… eventually. And when it does, runners will start emerging again, not just the die-hards who have been braving the cold all winter. I treat a whole spectrum of runners in clinic, from Ironman athletes to weekend joggers and everything in between. This webinar is an absolute goldmine, and I hope you get as much out of it as I have.

February 14, 2026
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5 patients on needles as i make this video….

00:00:42
January 10, 2026
Foot & Ankle Disfunction

January’s webinar is here! This one is a favorite of mine because it includes the fascial lens when teaching the movement of the foot and ankle. It cover anatomy, fascia, and accessory motion of the foot and ankle. Definitely worth checking out.

Metatarsal pain

Hi, everybody.
@Exstoreman , I have a new patient with right metatarsal pain that has been going on and off for 2 years. (65 yo female, petite.) It started with Achilles' tendinitis and calf pain, then with foot pain as the calf pain subsided. Eventually, it went away, but came back after wearing a pair of boots with slightly elevated heels. Pain sometimes turns into numbness, and sometimes numbness extends to all toes. Her Tibialis Anterior and Peroneal Longus has trigger points. There is only a slight tightness in the medial gastrocnemius and Soleus. She can lift her big toe while standing without pain. Pain is worse when she is driving. The metatarsal gel pad is the only thing that alleviates pain. (Now she has an orthotic, which she is breaking in slowly.) I treated the Peroneal Longus and the Adductor Hallucis as the first treatment. 1) How do I test these muscles (or others)? 2) Should I be looking at other muscles? FYI, she did PT, Chiro, acu, anti-inflammatory ...

@JoshuaSwart you would be proud. I revised my entire home page today for more of a story driven experience from patient perspective. I'd love your opinion. I just need to change my global header links but I feel everything else is improved and I used my photo shoot pictures for alot of it. Should look very polished soon. I have just a few more condition pages to write and I'll have felt I niched down more with 24 common MSK condition and nervous system articles that can be rotated yearly.

Hi Doc @Exstoreman female with face pain, diagnosed as temporo Auricular neuralgia from tim dysfunction. Patient is chronic systemic, pain seems to be along temporo Auricular nerve and facial n.I have done light stim on facial n and temporal branch and some light neck work which last a few days. Any suggestion. Grazie

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